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The Founder

The founder’s early childhood experiences and the act of kindness from his adopted father, led him to the promotion of peace, and the dedication of his life in fighting against the forceful use of youths and children in senseless wars.

Charles Wratto is a former Liberian child soldier, an associate researcher at the Babes-Bolyai Conflict Studies Center and a Peace Activist. From age eight he witnessed and survived the horrors of two civil wars: one in his native Liberia and the other in neighbouring Sierra Leone where he endured circumstances scarcely imaginable. At age 15 he was captured and forced to become a soldier in Liberia. Leaving his country and family behind (in 2001), he travelled seven days through the vast forest from Liberia to the Ivory Coast. Fighting another cruel battle to survive as a refugee, he left for Mali, where he met Belemina Obunge, a Nigerian national who took him in as a son. Through Obunge’s help, Charles finished grade school, obtained his BSc in International Relations, MA in Crisis and Conflict Management, and presently pursuing his PhD in Conflict Analysis and Management at the Babes-Bolyai University in Romania. Charles is an inspiration to thousands of youths in Africa, Europe and the United States of America. He was recently selected as one of the four heroes of a Romanian news agency, “Think Outside the Box.” His ultimate goal is to help the children and youths of his background.